Online travel agent Expedia has revealed that it is seeing an increased interest in cruises to Europe in response to cuts in air capacity between America and Europe.

The year so far has seen increased interest in European cruises from US consumers. There was “tremendous value” to be secured for travelers right now.

According to the firm, cruise lines are currently cutting rates for European tours, “without cutting services,” sometimes giving travelers a cheaper option than flying to the region and staying in a hotel.

Comparing the price of a seven-night cruise vs a seven-night trip including hotel, food and transportation in Spain and Italy, Expedia calculated that travelers paid 68 percent more for the self-guided trip vs an inside cabin (generally the cheapest option) and 33 percent more vs a balcony cabin.

While spending the bulk of a vacation on board a ship won’t appeal to everybody, Expedia points out that travelers don’t need to miss out on land excursions — although it doesn’t mention whether its cost comparison includes fees for such trips.

The European cruise ship market has grown by 165 percent since 1998, with reports suggesting that it is the fastest-growing sector in global tourism.

In Europe, some of this growth has been fueled by the popularity of river cruising, which uses smaller vessels to navigate restricted waterways that crisscross the continent .

Eearlier this year, the Cruise Line International Association said that it was a sector gaining rapidly in popularity, with shorter cruises being seen in Europe.

Source: AFPrelaxnews